WHAT: International human-rights activist John Prendergast, UMass Lowell’s 2012 Greeley Scholar for Peace Studies, will talk about his behind-the-scenes experience with the KONY 2012 video and campaign that seeks to bring accused Ugandan war criminal Joseph Kony to justice.

Prendergast, who appears in the video produced by Invisible Children, will discuss KONY 2012’s social-media impact and prospects for success. Viewed more than 80 million times online, the video – which became an Internet sensation last spring – urges public action to help ensure Kony is arrested. Joining in the discussion will be UMass Lowell Chancellor Marty Meehan and U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern.

Prendergast, who is also a youth advocate and best-selling author, has spent more than 25 years working to stop human-rights violations around the world and foster peace in Africa. Co-founder of The Enough Project, he is also a board member of Not on Our Watch, a humanitarian-aid group established by George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle. Prendergast has worked for the Clinton administration, the U.S. Department of State, UNICEF, Human Rights Watch, the National Intelligence Council, the International Crisis Group and the U.S. Institute of Peace, among others.

Free and open to the public, the event is presented by the UMass Lowell Greeley Scholar for Peace Studies Committee and the UMass Lowell Peace and Conflict Studies Institute.